Duke ABSN Fall 2011

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Hi all!

I know its early and the application isn't due until December 1st, but I was wondering if there was anyone else out there applying to the Duke ABSN program to start in August of 2011! I've already read through some of the previous semesters' threads and it seems like a great outlet for discussion/ questions/ nerves!

Let me know :)

Thanks for the replies everyone! I'm super nervous that my interview is on Friday, but super excited to get it over also!

Evaamber, I know that they are supposed to be serving breakfast and lunch...what exactly did they serve? Also, did your guest eat with you or go somewhere else? I'm planning on bringing my mother with me and I don't want her to starve all day :)

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aspire2inspire - Breakfast was continental. Coffee, bagels, fruit, muffins, yogurt. Lunch was boxed lunches containing a sandwich, chips, and cookie. They also had lots of bottled water. There was enough for guests at our "duke days". I am sure mom will be able to eat. :)

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are there signs throughout the school of nursing so you know where to go?? i will be staying with a friend of mine who is an undergraduate at duke, and may either take the bus/shuttle or a cab from east campus to the nursing school. once you're there, is it pretty self-explanatory? do they give you a tour? how many people were there approximately?

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Nikki - I am absolutely the worst person to ask about directions, but I think there was only one nursing school building, so if you can find that you are golden. There are signs pointing you to where to sign in once you're at the building, but you would find it anyway. It's a pretty small lobby level. There was a tour of the nursing building, and also of the surrounding hospitals and clinics. In our group there were around 50 people interviewing. I was told there will be around 164 people interviewing total with some doing it over the phone.

Good Luck to everyone interviewing tomorrow!!!!

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Hi Everyone!

Sorry that I have not commented on anything. It seems like a lot of the questions have already been answered though. I also interviewed last Friday. I was soooo nervous! When I got there I could hardly eat the breakfast, but once I sat down and started talking to everyone I had calmed down and relaxed. My interview was also at the end of the day, and when that time came I was shaking again. I think my second interview went much better than the first since I was so nervous. The interviewers really do try to make you feel comfortable and they are extremely nice. In the interview they ask you the basic questions like, why nursing, why Duke, strengths, weaknesses.... basically your personal statement. I had things in my mind that I wanted to say or that I wish I did say, but when it came down to it my mind went blank. The only advice I have, besides to try to relax, is to be honest and be yourself. That is all they really want to see.

I had wore a suit to the interview and I felt like it was a good choice. I had dressed it down by wearing flat shoes and a sleeveless shirt with a sweater cardigan under the jacket.

I had arrived the morning before the interview and went to look at Duke's campus. When I was there the first thing I tried to find (after finding parking) was a map! The campus is huge and very spread out! By the chapel, there is a building called the Bryan University Center and in their university mechandise store they had a map!! The map was extremely helpful and it had the roads and the building names on it. It showed exactly where the school of nursing was located.

Best of luck to everyone interviewing tomorrow!!!! It is a great experience and I'm sure you all will do amazing!!! ;)

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Nikki,

Here is a link that shows the School of Nursing on Duke's interactive map.

http://www.map.duke.edu/building/257

Duke's map has a link to Google Maps on the right side of the page.

The Nursing School is just off of Durham Freeway. There is a public parking garage that is right across the street from the school. I believe that parking is a mere $1 per hour, and it is very convenient to be parked just across the street.

I wish you well in your interviews.

Norma

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How'd it go?? Did you feel my good vibes sent out from sunny California? ;) wasn't the school fabulous?

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Hi everyone,

The school was awesome! I don't have anything negative to say about the program. I live 2 hours from Duke and I thought that I wasn't going to make it on time because the pantyhose gods were not in my favor yesterday. I was planning on wearing a skirt but every single pair of my NEW pantyhose got runs in them as I was putting them on...and so I had to iron my new slacks at the last minute that I wasn't going to wear until I had them tailored...oh well! Anyway, the highway gods were on my side because the roads were clear and I made it there on time (thanks in part to my mom driving like she'd stolen Batman's ride)!

From what someone told my mom, this group had the largest turnout of supporters, and they welcomed guests just as much as the interviewees.

The facilities are awesome! You will love the CND and the high-fidelity mannequins. It makes the training experience so much more engaging...and real.

My interviews were as expected...a little scary but great nonetheless. Thankfully, I interviewed in the morning because I would have been a wreck if I had to wait all day. I stumbled a bit in the beginning of the first interview, so much so that it was as if I was creating a new language right there on the spot LOL, but my interviewer was so welcoming and assuring that I calmed down and finished my interview on a positive note. My second interview went MUCH better so hopefully they gained a good picture of who I am.

As far as the interview questions...straightforward like others have mentioned and no trickery involved. They want to know about YOU...that's it.

DUSON is not cheap. Tuition and fees alone are $60,000+. For students who will need to borrow the costs of living expenses and other incidentals, plan on tacking on another $25-30,000. And of course there may be tuition hikes. Ouch. But is it worth it? Totally, in my opinion.

They're planning on having a cohort of around 72 for Fall 2011, and they are not allowing deferred admissions (case-by-case basis). The previous class has about 95 students I believe, and so I guess they are adjusting the numbers this time around.

I was able to talk to a couple of current students that were studying on the second floor. One student said that she loves the school, but that school is her life. On class days she's there for 12 hours or more straight, and that clinical days are like work days. Also, if you're not a morning person, you will be by the end of this program. They get moving early! The nursing building is open 24-7 (card access), which is a neat feature. You will spend a lot of time there.

Well I'm gonna end here because I don't want to write a brochure and ruin the experience for the last group LOL. Let's just hope that they don't send out first round decisions on Valentine's Day :)

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Did I meet any of you??? I have a short black bob with bangs and kept asking all kinds of dumb questions :)

All the potential students were really nice and it seems that if you are accepted you become part of this great community.

The day was long but it certainly didn't feel that way at all because there was always something going on. I would have to say the worse part was finding out about the cost and the idea of taking out all those loans, but as the financial lady said to me - it's ultimately your decision to make -she's right and I feel every penny spent there would be worth it!

What a school! I won't tell you everything since a lot has been mentioned already but you'll have a good time!!

I would just suggest asking all kinds of questions- even if they seem silly- I did. I thought I was going to start annoying people around me but hey when else are you going to have all those knowledgable people in front of you again?

I left happy and excited about the future- we'll see what happens come mid February- Good luck to you and don't be nervours!!!

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ps- don't stay at the Extended Stay- depressing place

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How'd it go?? Did you feel my good vibes sent out from sunny California? ;) wasn't the school fabulous?

Hi!!! I did feel your sunny CA vibes since the weather was GORGEOUS! The building was truly beautiful and I loved the feel of having a campus. I am a bit conflicted on the program itself though, but I felt my interviews went very well. I feel I would be very happy going there, but since I am so set and focused on a PNP track, I didn't get the sense that those in the ABSN program are supposed to know what they want to do, and when I asked questions about the MSN portion, the majority of people I spoke with worked for a very very long time before going back for the MSN. I really wanted to go straight through, since my goal is to be an advanced practice nurse, not a RN. What did you think of it?

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but i did love it.. i really am torn. I guess it will all depend on what schools I get accepted to. But I really did love it there and people were so nice and friendly.

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